Klinsmann set to rest key players for Sporting clash
Bayern beat the Portuguese side 5-0 away from home and should complete the job at the Allianz Arena although Klinsmann expects the opposition to be in better shape than a fortnight ago.
“They are a really good team,” he said. “They will want to show that what happened in Lisbon was just a one-off. They will give it all they have.” Nevertheless, Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge is sure his club are certain of being in the last eight.
“I think I can say without sounding arrogant that, before this second leg, our team is as good as guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals,” he said.
That practical assurance will allow Klinsmann to make a few alterations and he has confirmed he will give a rest to goalkeeper Michael Rensing and not take any risks on the injured trio of Luca Toni, Franck Ribery and Tim Borowski. Hamit Altintop is also out of the game after picking up an injury in the 5-1 win over Hannover on Saturday.
Jose Ernesto Sosa and Breno should earn rare starts, although Klinsmann believes the 66,000 fans deserve to see their team at their best. “It will be a sellout, it is the Champions League and we have an obligation to the fans to give it our best,” he said.
“I want a really good performance and a team which takes this game seriously. We may have one and a half legs in the next round, but we are not fully there yet. Those who do play will have to give it everything.”
Klinsmann has included Deniz Yilmaz and Thomas Muller in his squad from the reserve team and one of the two forwards could well start.
Sporting coach Paulo Bento also believes the tie is all but over.
“The outcome is already clear, but we will leave the competition with pride,” he said.
Bento could rotate his team even more than Klinsmann since Liedson is out and both midfielders Fabio Rochemback and Leandro Romagnoli have not made the trip to Munich.
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